Death Preparation among the Ethnic Chinese Well-Elderly in Singapore: An Exploratory Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol K. L. Chan ◽  
Matthew K. Yau

Death preparation is an important process as it can help the elderly to achieve ego integrity at the last stage of their lives. This study aims to explore how the ethnic Chinese elderly in Singapore approach issues related to death and dying, and to identify factors that influence death preparation. Descriptive surveys with semi-structured interview questions were used. Eight ethnic Chinese older adults, recruited through purposive sampling, were interviewed. Additionally, 4 adults with a deceased parent were also interviewed to validate and complement the earlier identified themes. Results show that the current generation of Chinese elderly in Singapore do not seem to be averse to talking about issues related to death, and those who find it unnecessary to prepare for death seem to be associated with, among other factors, lesser financial assets and a strong belief in filial piety. With increasing affluence and dissolving traditions, it will be beneficial to draw the attention of the current generation of mature adults on early preparation at the final stage of the lifespan.

2018 ◽  
pp. 1842003
Author(s):  
CONGMIN PENG ◽  
PO-WEN SHE

As the old Chinese saying goes, “raise children against aging” is used to describe the most desirable life arrangement for Chinese elderly people, as it reflects the core idea of filial piety that lies near the heart of the Confucian doctrine regulating society. In a fast-changing economy, are these traditional values still hold for Chinese elderly? Applying the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we explore the determinants of elderly’s wellbeing in modern China. We have a particular interest in whether living with their children, receiving pecuniary/material transfer or support from children or having more children significantly affects the wellbeing of the elderly. We find that these factors have no significance in affecting the wellbeing of the elderly in China. Furthermore, among the factors significantly determining the wellbeing of Chinese elderly people, pensions and health care are very important, particularly to the elderly in rural areas. Notably, gross domestic product (GDP) level of the province or municipality, where the elderly habitats have a significant impact on elderly’s wellbeing and this echoes with some contemporary research.


Author(s):  
Isabel Brown

ABSTRACTA retrospective study was conducted in a large multilevel geriatric centre to analyse the deaths reported in the year 1981. This centre provides accommodation for 750 elderly and/or chronically ill persons in three agencies—an apartment complex, a home for the aged, and a long-term care hospital The study revealed that the hospital is the place of death for a high proportion of the elderly residents of the centre. In particular, residents of the home for the aged are unlikely to remain in the “home” to die. It was found that patterns of death and dying for individuals admitted to the hospital from the general community differ in several ways from the patterns of those who are already living in the centre in terms of age and probable cause of death.


Author(s):  
Ana R. Ortega ◽  
Mª José Calero

The objective of this paper was to study the evolution of cognitive status and of functional dependency in patients over 65 and how these relate to different demographic variables. The sample consisted of 259 elderly people admitted to the Hospital Neurotraumatológico in Jaen (Spain) with a diagnosis of bone fracture. Sociodemographic data was obtained through a semi-structured interview. Furthermore, the following tests were also administered: Barthel Index, Lawton and Brody’s Scale, Phototest, and Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly. According to the results of this study, elderly patients show increased dependency during hospitalization and a mild recovery at discharge, but without regaining their dependency values prior to hospitalization. There is a differential incidence of functional decline as a function of gender, where women have significantly lower functional dependency at home than men and they do not decline as much as men do from their status prior to hospitalization. Also, we have encountered significant inverse relations between the different levels of dependency and cognitive status, and the age of the elderly patient. Moreover, married patients experienced greater functional gain than did the widowed patients, regardless of gender.


2010 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A. Lowe ◽  
Victoria L. Medina

Service learning offers opportunities for both educational institutions and the community. To demonstrate the possibilities this pedagogy can offer, this article discusses a service learning experience partnering students with a hospice agency. Using mixed methodology, impact on students, patients, and staff are examined. Results indicate that students improved their attitudes toward the elderly, and death and dying; they also believed the experience caused personal and professional growth. Interviews with patients highlighted the importance of relationships and recognition, and staff identified benefits to students, patients, and the hospice agency. The conclusion is made that service learning is best perceived in a light of reciprocity and that this method of engagement offers opportunities for educators and practitioners. Finally, some tips are given for practitioners interested in developing such collaborations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Maria Theresia Arie Lilyana ◽  
Kristina Pae

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic syndrome due to impaired amount and function of insulin which causes high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). Chronic hyperglycemia that occurs in DM can cause both microvascular and macrovascular complications, so the ability to manage DM is needed to prevent it. The focus of this research is the ability to manage DM for the elderly after getting education about DM management from various sources of information. A qualitative phenomenological design was chosen to obtain individual and in-depth information. Four participants were determined by purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted using a recording device, a semi-structured interview guide, and field notes. Colaizzi's approach Qualitative content analysis produces themes: The information sources of DM management; The DM management that has been done; and The DM education form that they expected. This study concludes that based on information that the participant gives, management of DM are obtained by consumption hypoglycemic therapy and diet routinely to stay in a healthy condition, physical activities such as exercise carried out according to participant conditions, and another method of therapies is based on the participant experience and habits as a result of complications that occur for example hypoglycemia. Recommendation for the next research is an effective education for the elderly is needed to improve their ability to manage chronic illness such as DM. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, education, DM management, elderly


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Alice De Freitas ◽  
Angela Maria Alvarez

Objetivo: compreender, dentro das melhores práticas, as experiências de busca por conhecimento e utilização da experiência profissional dos enfermeiros no cuidado da pessoa idosa na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Método: trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, descritivo e exploratório, com 30 enfermeiros atuantes nas Estratégias Saúde da Família. Utilizou-se um instrumento de entrevista semiestruturado. Analisaram-se os dados pela técnica de Análise de Conteúdo na modalidade Análise Temática. Resultados: revelaram-se a busca por conhecimento com outros profissionais e o acesso à rede de internet como fontes de conhecimento. Evidenciou-se a necessidade do estabelecimento de uma rotina de estudos sistematizada e agenda de educação permanente sob a temática do envelhecimento. Conclusão: conclui-se que o estudo confirma que os enfermeiros realizam ações que carecem de notoriedade e que estão preocupados com o impacto de suas ações para o usuário idoso, mas, para que as melhores práticas sejam completamente estabelecidas,  se faz necessária a imersão científica e metodológica dos profissionais e da gestão, além da busca por conhecimento e valorização da experiência, que já coexistem. Descritores: Idoso; Enfermagem; Conhecimento, Atenção Primária à Saúde; Saúde da Pessoa Idosa; Dinâmica Populacional.AbstractObjective: to understand, within the best practices, the experiences of searching for knowledge and using nurses' professional experience in the care of the elderly in Primary Health Care. Method: this is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, with 30 nurses working in the Family Health Strategies. A semi-structured interview instrument was used. Data was analyzed using the Content Analysis technique in the Thematic Analysis modality. Results: the search for knowledge with other professionals and access to the internet network as sources of knowledge were revealed. The need to establish a systematic study routine and a permanent education agenda under the theme of aging became evident. Conclusion: it is concluded that the study confirms that nurses perform actions that lack notoriety and that they are concerned with the impact of their actions for the elderly user, but, for the best practices to be completely established, scientific immersion is necessary and methodological approach of professionals and management, in addition to the search for knowledge and appreciation of experience, which already coexist. Descriptors: Elderly; Nursing; Knowledge; Primary Health Care; Elderly health; Population Dynamics.ResumenObjetivo: comprender, dentro de las mejores prácticas, las experiencias de búsqueda de conocimiento y el uso de la experiencia profesional de los enfermeros en el cuidado de ancianos en Atención Primaria de Salud. Método: estudio cualitativo, descriptivo y exploratorio con 30 enfermeros activos en las Estrategias de Salud Familiar. Se utilizó un instrumento de entrevista semiestructurada. Los datos se analizaron utilizando la técnica de Análisis de Contenido en la modalidad de Análisis Temático. Resultados: se reveló la búsqueda de conocimiento con otros profesionales y el acceso a la red de Internet como fuentes de conocimiento. La necesidad de establecer una rutina de estudio sistemática y una agenda de educación permanente bajo el tema del envejecimiento se hizo evidente. Conclusión: se concluye que el estudio confirma que los enfermeros realizan acciones que carecen de notoriedad y que están preocupados por el impacto de sus acciones para el usuario mayor, pero, para que las mejores prácticas se establezcan por completo, es necesaria la inmersión científica y enfoque metodológico de profesionales y directivos, además de la búsqueda de conocimiento y valoración de la experiencia, que ya coexisten. Descriptores: Anciano; Enfermería; Conocimiento; Atencíon Primária de la Salud; Saúde do Idoso; Dinámica Poblacional.


2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria de Fátima Fernandes Martins Catão ◽  
Alice Fernanda Martins Grisi

This study was developed based on the reality of population aging, the Aging Era, and the matter of exclusion and psychosocial suffering experienced by elderly people, with the aim of analyzing the meanings of the construction of the life project, work and exclusion/inclusion of this population. A semi-structured interview was performed with 25 participants of the Care for the Elderly Person Program. The lexical and contextual Thematic Content Analysis was performed using the Alcest program for the quantitative analysis of textual data. Three themes were recovered: The world and I: process of exclusion/inclusion - represented 27.77% of the statements; The Future as the present - foremost expressed with 44.44%; Work and the Life Project as a way of social inclusion - 27.77%. The need for conscious actions was highlighted, with reference to the ethics of citizens who are involved and interested in experiencing aging in a healthier way, in order to humanize the living/aging relationship.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-49
Author(s):  
Keshab Prasad Timalsina

The elderly abuse in a family is one of the most challenging problems in a society. The present study aims to assess the prevalence of elderly abuse in the family environment of JureliTole of Bakaiya Rural Municipality. The study also presents various risk factors that influence the prevalence of Elderly abuse. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 103 elders taken from household survey by using census method. The data were collected through a face-to-face structured interview schedule. The descriptive and regression analysis of the collected data showed that the prevalence of elderly abuse was 46.6% in the study population. This study measured significant association (p<0.05) of overall abuse against the elder with only two socio-demographic variables (literacy status and health status) among the variables (gender, age groups, living with or without spouse, literacy status, health status, dependency status, and income level). The results showed that the elders with/without spouse had the highest odds ratio to be abused (2.19 times) followed by gender (1.64 times), and health status (1.25 times). Although this study found lower prevalence than many previous studies, it is still significant and needs to be prevented. Based on the study, it can be said that living without a spouse, with poor health, and being female are the major predictive descriptors for elderly abuse.The policies and programs are needed for the prevention of elderly abuse which may require collective action from social, health and justice sectors. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (40) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Fernanda Neves Silveira de Souza ◽  
Luiza Fernandes Fonseca Sandes ◽  
Amanda Miranda Brito Araújo ◽  
Daniel Antunes Freitas

Objective: To investigate the perception and oral health practices among older quilombola women (black population group, descendants of slaves in Brazil). Methods: Qualitative research with elderly women living in a rural community formed by descendants of slaves in Brazil. The study was performed through a semi-structured interview with nine of the rural community residents and following content analysis of the narratives. Results: All elderly women are edentulous (partially or totally) and dental problems that led them to use natural means of pain relief were identified. With the analysis of the transcripts, three main categories emerged: the elderly of Quilombola Rural Community Julia Mulata and edentulism; self-perceived oral health of older women of the Quilombola Rural Community Julia Mulata; Popular practices used in the presence of health problems. Conclusion: Quilombola elderly consider the loss of teeth as natural aging; they present life stories linked to dental problems; seek to solve their dental problems with the use of traditional folk therapies.


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